Raman Nanotheranostics - RaNT - developing the targeted diagnostics and therapeutics of the future by combining light and functionalised nanoparticles
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Exeter
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The rapidly emerging field of 'Nano-Theranostics' is widely expected to have a significant impact on healthcare in the next decade and beyond. Theranostics is the combination of therapy and diagnosis. It aims to identify diseases and treat them in a single, effective non-surgical procedure. Our recently developed gold nano-technologies allow unprecedented accuracy in identifying diseases such as cancers measured at depths of centimetres inside the body using only light. Furthermore, light can then also be used to trigger the gold particles to destroy the diseased cells or tissues identified using this method in a controlled, safe and targeted fashion.
Numerous diseases would benefit from new methods to provide early accurate diagnosis, with effective localised treatment tailored to each patient and non-invasive monitoring of treatment progress. Existing diagnostic techniques do not manage to measure the early changes in the makeup of abnormal cells - whilst they are still in the body with sufficient accuracy or sensitivity. In cancers the molecular changes found within the cells and tissues are the downstream effects of genetic mutations driving the tumour development. A novel method to identify these early changes within the body, without removing tissue, and to use them to target treatment or monitor progression is our objective, delivering tangible benefits in patient outcome and costs.
We will also develop a novel approach for assembling tiny gold nanoparticle clusters to enable their effective optical readout and to pass safely through the body and target diseased cells of interest. These clusters will be coated in a proven biocompatible wrapping which enhances transport across biological barriers, and modified to enable them to be attracted selectively to diseased cells. Most importantly we bring together the unique capabilities: to read out multiple signals non-invasively from clusters at depths of many cm; to build safe clusters which will self-disintegrate over time (eg hours) into smaller safe units that can be excreted from the body; to tune the size and contents of these constructs to enable light to trigger a therapeutic response, via heating or drug delivery; and to provide real-time in-vivo readout of the local temperature within the tissue during treatment to maximise its effectiveness and minimise collateral damage to healthy tissue.
Furthermore, the proposed Nano-Theranostic approach will deliver the ability to detect and localise many different diseases via a single nano-construct. This utilises functionalised gold nanoparticles to produce specific spectroscopic signatures (via surface enhanced Raman - SERS) from reporter molecules illuminated with low intensity, safe, near-infrared laser light from outside the body. This opens the way for real-time identification and localisation, within the body, of distinct expressions of disease, by targeting numerous specific molecular targets simultaneously. The near-infrared light is barely absorbed in tissues and cells and is non-cancerous (unlike UV light), thus facilitating the possibility of safe, regular non-invasive monitoring of treatment or progression of disease.
In the near future, patients will have effective and limited treatments selected specifically for their needs, to maximise the therapeutic value of any necessary treatment and prevent the application of any unnecessary, and potentially harmful through side effects, therapy. This has the potential to lead to not only increased survival rates, but increased quality of life for those likely to be offered major treatments in current clinical system and also potentially save many £100Ms across the UK each year on ineffective treatments.
We constitute a team of world leading experts in complementary research fields to facilitate a number of significant advances impacting on healthcare of the future.
Numerous diseases would benefit from new methods to provide early accurate diagnosis, with effective localised treatment tailored to each patient and non-invasive monitoring of treatment progress. Existing diagnostic techniques do not manage to measure the early changes in the makeup of abnormal cells - whilst they are still in the body with sufficient accuracy or sensitivity. In cancers the molecular changes found within the cells and tissues are the downstream effects of genetic mutations driving the tumour development. A novel method to identify these early changes within the body, without removing tissue, and to use them to target treatment or monitor progression is our objective, delivering tangible benefits in patient outcome and costs.
We will also develop a novel approach for assembling tiny gold nanoparticle clusters to enable their effective optical readout and to pass safely through the body and target diseased cells of interest. These clusters will be coated in a proven biocompatible wrapping which enhances transport across biological barriers, and modified to enable them to be attracted selectively to diseased cells. Most importantly we bring together the unique capabilities: to read out multiple signals non-invasively from clusters at depths of many cm; to build safe clusters which will self-disintegrate over time (eg hours) into smaller safe units that can be excreted from the body; to tune the size and contents of these constructs to enable light to trigger a therapeutic response, via heating or drug delivery; and to provide real-time in-vivo readout of the local temperature within the tissue during treatment to maximise its effectiveness and minimise collateral damage to healthy tissue.
Furthermore, the proposed Nano-Theranostic approach will deliver the ability to detect and localise many different diseases via a single nano-construct. This utilises functionalised gold nanoparticles to produce specific spectroscopic signatures (via surface enhanced Raman - SERS) from reporter molecules illuminated with low intensity, safe, near-infrared laser light from outside the body. This opens the way for real-time identification and localisation, within the body, of distinct expressions of disease, by targeting numerous specific molecular targets simultaneously. The near-infrared light is barely absorbed in tissues and cells and is non-cancerous (unlike UV light), thus facilitating the possibility of safe, regular non-invasive monitoring of treatment or progression of disease.
In the near future, patients will have effective and limited treatments selected specifically for their needs, to maximise the therapeutic value of any necessary treatment and prevent the application of any unnecessary, and potentially harmful through side effects, therapy. This has the potential to lead to not only increased survival rates, but increased quality of life for those likely to be offered major treatments in current clinical system and also potentially save many £100Ms across the UK each year on ineffective treatments.
We constitute a team of world leading experts in complementary research fields to facilitate a number of significant advances impacting on healthcare of the future.
Planned Impact
The major impact from this PG will be to establish a platform healthcare technology, in a significant area of increasing clinical need, to provide stratified diagnosis and therapy in a single modality. It will have the significant potential to improve patient outcomes (lower mortality/less aggressive treatments); reduce dramatically the financial burden of healthcare and provide a catalyst for UK novel healthcare technology industries. This will be achieved by developing industry and healthcare partnerships to develop solutions for specific disease targets that will be first tested in pre-clinical studies and lead to full in vivo clinical trials.
Here we propose to develop an advanced diagnostic platform addressing the critical clinical needs of the next generation of healthcare, combining non-invasive in-vivo detection and diagnosis of disease with targeted, light-mediated therapeutics and real-time treatment monitoring. The initial targets of this novel approach will be subsurface cancers and their associated metastases; such as breast, prostate, head and neck cancers and associated metastases (secondary cancers). This will be achieved by bringing together several unique technologies, established by the applicants in their respective fields, who have already evidence of collaborating. These when integrated will yield exceptionally high added value providing the capability of delivering Raman Nanotheranostics in a safe, effective and minimally invasive (non-surgical) manner.
We will make use of the EPSRC translation toolkit, benefitting patients and UK academia. A major impact on the UK economy will also be accrued. (Cancer diagnosis and therapy is expected to cost >£15B by 2021.) The new platform technology may also be applicable elsewhere - eg in glucose detection, infectious diseases, Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases.
This is a highly challenging programme with high level risks balanced by exceptionally high benefits to the society if delivered as proposed. The risks are mitigated by bringing together world-leading experts to deliver each of our pillar technologies, through carefully coordinated sub-programmes, followed by careful integration. Each element of this programme will facilitate breakthroughs, stimulating the nascent field in numerous ways with extra added value stemming from their integration into a unique diagnostic-therapy.
The programme partners will establish a Clinical Collaborator Group to provide insight to key clinical needs and an International Advisory Board to provide advice on identifying and translating new clinical technologies into commercial products for the benefit of patients. One of the major outputs of this programme will be to ensure we develop realistic future healthcare technologies, by use of our IAB, public engagement events - discussing patient's views on use of nano-technologies, outlining their potential - and careful health economic evaluation (cost/benefit analysis) of the technologies versus specific clinical needs.
The PI and CIs have experience of translating technologies from bench to bedside and are aware of the need to de-risk the concepts and technologies we develop to ensure industrial support is forthcoming to drive it to the market in a timely manner.
Ultimately patients will benefit from better clinical decisions being taken, with enhanced knowledge provided by the direct measure of the tissue composition and associated physiology. The health service will benefit by having to provide less secondary procedures and clinics in addition to potentially reducing the need for radical cancer treatments in those with early lesions. The commercial sector and UK plc will benefit from the implementation of such methods (and associated spin offs).
Here we propose to develop an advanced diagnostic platform addressing the critical clinical needs of the next generation of healthcare, combining non-invasive in-vivo detection and diagnosis of disease with targeted, light-mediated therapeutics and real-time treatment monitoring. The initial targets of this novel approach will be subsurface cancers and their associated metastases; such as breast, prostate, head and neck cancers and associated metastases (secondary cancers). This will be achieved by bringing together several unique technologies, established by the applicants in their respective fields, who have already evidence of collaborating. These when integrated will yield exceptionally high added value providing the capability of delivering Raman Nanotheranostics in a safe, effective and minimally invasive (non-surgical) manner.
We will make use of the EPSRC translation toolkit, benefitting patients and UK academia. A major impact on the UK economy will also be accrued. (Cancer diagnosis and therapy is expected to cost >£15B by 2021.) The new platform technology may also be applicable elsewhere - eg in glucose detection, infectious diseases, Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases.
This is a highly challenging programme with high level risks balanced by exceptionally high benefits to the society if delivered as proposed. The risks are mitigated by bringing together world-leading experts to deliver each of our pillar technologies, through carefully coordinated sub-programmes, followed by careful integration. Each element of this programme will facilitate breakthroughs, stimulating the nascent field in numerous ways with extra added value stemming from their integration into a unique diagnostic-therapy.
The programme partners will establish a Clinical Collaborator Group to provide insight to key clinical needs and an International Advisory Board to provide advice on identifying and translating new clinical technologies into commercial products for the benefit of patients. One of the major outputs of this programme will be to ensure we develop realistic future healthcare technologies, by use of our IAB, public engagement events - discussing patient's views on use of nano-technologies, outlining their potential - and careful health economic evaluation (cost/benefit analysis) of the technologies versus specific clinical needs.
The PI and CIs have experience of translating technologies from bench to bedside and are aware of the need to de-risk the concepts and technologies we develop to ensure industrial support is forthcoming to drive it to the market in a timely manner.
Ultimately patients will benefit from better clinical decisions being taken, with enhanced knowledge provided by the direct measure of the tissue composition and associated physiology. The health service will benefit by having to provide less secondary procedures and clinics in addition to potentially reducing the need for radical cancer treatments in those with early lesions. The commercial sector and UK plc will benefit from the implementation of such methods (and associated spin offs).
Organisations
- University of Exeter (Lead Research Organisation)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Collaboration)
- Cancer Research UK (Project Partner)
- Nanomerics Ltd (Project Partner)
- British Biocell International (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Baker MJ
(2018)
Clinical applications of infrared and Raman spectroscopy: state of play and future challenges.
in The Analyst
Baumberg JJ
(2019)
Hot electron science in plasmonics and catalysis: what we argue about.
in Faraday discussions
Chen WH
(2023)
Plasmonic Sensing Assay for Long-Term Monitoring (PSALM) of Neurotransmitters in Urine.
in ACS nanoscience Au
Chikkaraddy R
(2021)
Accessing Plasmonic Hotspots Using Nanoparticle-on-Foil Constructs.
in ACS photonics
Dey P
(2020)
Plasmonic Nanoassemblies: Tentacles Beat Satellites for Boosting Broadband NIR Plasmon Coupling Providing a Novel Candidate for SERS and Photothermal Therapy.
in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Ding T
(2020)
Thermo-responsive plasmonic systems: old materials with new applications.
in Nanoscale advances
Gardner B
(2020)
Noninvasive simultaneous monitoring of pH and depth using surface-enhanced deep Raman spectroscopy
in Journal of Raman Spectroscopy
Gardner B
(2021)
Self-absorption corrected non-invasive transmission Raman spectroscopy (of biological tissue)
in The Analyst
Gardner B
(2019)
Subsurface Chemically Specific Measurement of pH Levels in Biological Tissues Using Combined Surface-Enhanced and Deep Raman.
in Analytical chemistry
Gregg A
(2023)
Kinetics of Light-Responsive CNT / PNIPAM Hydrogel Microactuators
in Small
Griffiths J
(2021)
Locating Single-Atom Optical Picocavities Using Wavelength-Multiplexed Raman Scattering.
in ACS photonics
Grys D
(2020)
Eliminating irreproducibility in SERS substrates
in Journal of Raman Spectroscopy
Grys DB
(2020)
Citrate Coordination and Bridging of Gold Nanoparticles: The Role of Gold Adatoms in AuNP Aging.
in ACS nano
Grys DB
(2021)
SERSbot: Revealing the Details of SERS Multianalyte Sensing Using Full Automation.
in ACS sensors
Huang J
(2021)
Tracking interfacial single-molecule pH and binding dynamics via vibrational spectroscopy.
in Science advances
Hwang AY
(2022)
Tracking water dimers in ambient nanocapsules by vibrational spectroscopy.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Jakob L
(2021)
Single photon multiclock lock-in detection by picosecond timestamping
in Optica
Kamp M
(2020)
Cascaded nanooptics to probe microsecond atomic-scale phenomena.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Kamp M
(2020)
Multivalent Patchy Colloids for Quantitative 3D Self-Assembly Studies.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
Koczor-Benda Z
(2021)
Molecular Screening for Terahertz Detection with Machine-Learning-Based Methods
in Physical Review X
Mellor RD
(2022)
Ultrasmall-in-Nano: Why Size Matters.
in Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
Mellor RD
(2021)
Development of Bio-Functionalized, Raman Responsive, and Potentially Excretable Gold Nanoclusters.
in Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
Moran LJ
(2021)
An experimental and numerical modelling investigation of the optical properties of Intralipid using deep Raman spectroscopy.
in The Analyst
Mosca S
(2020)
Optical characterization of porcine tissues from various organs in the 650-1100 nm range using time-domain diffuse spectroscopy.
in Biomedical optics express
Mosca S
(2021)
Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy
in Nature Reviews Methods Primers
Mosca S
(2020)
Determination of inclusion depth in ex vivo animal tissues using surface enhanced deep Raman spectroscopy.
in Journal of biophotonics
Mosca S
(2019)
Spatially Offset and Transmission Raman Spectroscopy for Determination of Depth of Inclusion in Turbid Matrix.
in Analytical chemistry
Mosca S
(2021)
Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy-How Deep?
in Analytical chemistry
Mosca S
(2021)
Estimating the Reduced Scattering Coefficient of Turbid Media Using Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy.
in Analytical chemistry
Nicolson F
(2021)
Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy for biomedical applications
in Chemical Society Reviews
Rodríguez-Jiménez S
(2022)
Self-Assembled Liposomes Enhance Electron Transfer for Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Salimi M
(2022)
Nanoparticle-Mediated Photothermal Therapy Limitation in Clinical Applications Regarding Pain Management.
in Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
Sokolowski K
(2021)
Nanoparticle surfactants for kinetically arrested photoactive assemblies to track light-induced electron transfer.
in Nature nanotechnology
Tabish TA
(2020)
Smart Gold Nanostructures for Light Mediated Cancer Theranostics: Combining Optical Diagnostics with Photothermal Therapy.
in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
Xomalis A
(2021)
Interfering Plasmons in Coupled Nanoresonators to Boost Light Localization and SERS
in Nano Letters
Xomalis A
(2020)
Controlling Optically Driven Atomic Migration Using Crystal-Facet Control in Plasmonic Nanocavities.
in ACS nano
Xomalis A
(2023)
Multi-wavelength lock-in spectroscopy for extracting perturbed spectral responses: molecular signatures in nanocavities
in Optics Express
| Title | Raman Nanotheranostics - A vision for future healthcare |
| Description | A short animation developed with a professional animator to introduce the concept and vision of the Raman Nanotheranostics programme to a wider audience including members of the public and patient groups. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Raising the profile of the RaNT Programme amongst the general public. Further impact is expected as the animation is used more widely during planned engagement activities. |
| URL | https://rant-medicine.com/ |
| Title | The signaller |
| Description | It is the cover art to accompany a review article in the journal Chemical Science. Titled the signaller, it is designed to communicate how gold nanoparticles are helping to make non-invasive optical diagnostics a reality for future clinical practice. It specifically reflects the application of the Raman Nanotheranostic Programmes surface enhanced spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SESORS)-based technology. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Published on the front cover of the journal Chemical Science. Generating additional interest in the work of the RaNT Programme. |
| URL | https://rant-medicine.com/rant-on-cover-of-chemical-science/ |
| Description | 1) We have identified that sufficient signals can be generated from nanoparticles in vivo using SESORS methodologies. 2) These NPs also convert optical energy into heat efficiently. Further work to optimise these approaches will continue. 3) Novel nanoconstructs have been developed and tested using various methodologies - demonstrating both heating and SERS signals. 4) NP can be detected at depths of many cm using SESORS approaches. 5) Biocompatibility and in vivo testing is demonstrating potential clinical feasibility. 6) Novel read out appropaches are allowing both the depth and lateral extent of NP rich inclusions to be identified using transmission Raman geometries alone. |
| Exploitation Route | Developing and exploring novel nanomedicine techniques. |
| Sectors | Education,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | http://rant-medicine.com |
| Description | Exeter Biomaterials Optical Characterisation Suite - EBOC |
| Amount | £632,086 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V034251/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2020 |
| End | 05/2022 |
| Title | Data for Metasurfaces atop Metamaterials: Surface Morphology Induces Linear Dichroism in Gyroid Optical Metamaterials |
| Description | Data from all the figures in this paper. Please see the README file (Dataset.pdf) for descriptions of each subfolder. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data supporting "Controlling Optically-Driven Atomic Migration Using Crystal-Facet Control in Plasmonic Nanocavities" |
| Description | Research data contain the measurements of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and dark-field scattering of gold nanoparticles of various shapes, as described in the linked manuscript. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/308195 |
| Title | Research data supporting "Detecting mid-infrared light by molecular frequency upconversion with dual-wavelength hybrid nanoantennas" |
| Description | This folder contains research data from every figure in the paper. Briefly, files contain the reflection of the nanoparticle-on-resonator (NPoR) in visible and mid-infrared regime. Further, we enclose experiment data of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) of the constructs under study, as described in the linked manuscript. Here, we perform power dependent frequency upconversion measurements while measuring SERS. We show upconversion with pump ON and OFF. Then we show detail upconversion measurements for 40 NPoRs where we focus in various Stokes and antiStokes peaks for clarity. Lastly, we examine the mid-infrared tuning dependence of the frequency upconversion. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/330223 |
| Title | Research data supporting "Eliminating irreproducibility in SERS substrates" |
| Description | Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) data from self-assembled gold nanoparticle to study how the reproducibility in SERS substrates can be improved. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/315936 |
| Title | Research data supporting "Light-Actuated Anisotropic Microactuators from CNT/Hydrogel Nanocomposites" |
| Description | Research data supporting the article "Light-Actuated Anisotropic Microactuators from CNT/Hydrogel Nanocomposites". Source data provided include optical microscopy images, scanning electron microscopy images, structure deformation plots generated by finite element simulation software, and text files containing the data used for plots seen in the main text and supporting information (SI). A separate zip file is provided for each results figure from the main text and SI, which contains all the source data for the figure. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/335509 |
| Title | Research data supporting "Single photon multiclock lock-in detection by picosecond time stamping" |
| Description | This folder contains research data of every figure in the paper. This includes histograms of the lock-in frequencies as well as time tracks of the optical signal locked-in to the laser repetition rate, the laser modulation and the sweep of a delay stage. Finally, we record time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering to determine the vibrational lifetime of molecules in a plasmonic nanocavity. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/330674 |
| Description | Raman Nanotheranostics |
| Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We collaborate on the development of Raman nanothernostics a novel Healthcare Technology to identify and treat early and later cancers throughout the body. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exeter leads this programme of work and the university has contributed significant resources in building and kitting out new dedicated laboratories for this work. As a partnership we each contribute a unique skill set of leading researchers combining to develop something we could not do independently. |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Raman Nanotheranostics |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We collaborate on the development of Raman nanothernostics a novel Healthcare Technology to identify and treat early and later cancers throughout the body. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exeter leads this programme of work and the university has contributed significant resources in building and kitting out new dedicated laboratories for this work. As a partnership we each contribute a unique skill set of leading researchers combining to develop something we could not do independently. |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Raman Nanotheranostics |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We collaborate on the development of Raman nanothernostics a novel Healthcare Technology to identify and treat early and later cancers throughout the body. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exeter leads this programme of work and the university has contributed significant resources in building and kitting out new dedicated laboratories for this work. As a partnership we each contribute a unique skill set of leading researchers combining to develop something we could not do independently. |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Raman Nanotheranostics |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We collaborate on the development of Raman nanothernostics a novel Healthcare Technology to identify and treat early and later cancers throughout the body. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exeter leads this programme of work and the university has contributed significant resources in building and kitting out new dedicated laboratories for this work. As a partnership we each contribute a unique skill set of leading researchers combining to develop something we could not do independently. |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Attended the Institute of Physics (IoP) - Festival of Physics at the University of Exeter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Three members of the RaNT team engaged with young people, families and students (primary audience of the IoP event aimed at inspiring the next generation of physicists) attending the IoP Festival of Physics at the University of Exeter. We used the opportunity to begin developing an interactive narrative (including hands-on demonstrations) showcasing the fundamental science concepts behind the RaNT procedure and to practise rapid opinion canvassing. The event allowed us to establish sensible timings for elements of the narrative and gave us a list of improvements/additions to make to the setup, including the need to establish clearly defined audience flow through the stall. It also highlighted a need to have dedicated staff/space/script on the stall for opinion canvassing, whilst other members of the team deal with presenting/answering questions. These lessons will be taken forward to our next public event. This forms part of our wider plan, to gather perspectives from people that have no experience of the cancer care pathway. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.iop.org/about/news/join-iop-hosted-festival-of-physics-in-exeter#gref |
| Description | End-User Perspective on RaNT: People with Lived Experience of Cancer (Initial Interactions) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Our 2021 aim was to put RaNT through first contact with people who have experience of living with cancer, and to hear their thoughts and perspectives on the concept behind the research. We wanted to make sure RaNT was a desirable solution for patients, and identify any critical issues that might affect future uptake. This work would allow us to structure our approach to all future engagement with the research. Our Communities Engagement Manager (CEM) hoped to connect with around 50 people and listen to perspectives on our 3 target cancers (breast, prostate, and head & neck). In the end, we doubled that target, and participants generously shared their personal stories of 17 different types of cancer, including many experiences of metastases. We've worked with 7 charities and support groups (Penny Brohn UK; Shine Cancer Support; Heads2gether; The Chestnut Appeal; Can Cope: Exmouth Breast Cancer Support Group; Prospect: Bristol & District Prostate Cancer Support Group; Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon & Gloucestershire Cancer Services), leading to in-depth phone calls, email conversations, small-group and 1-on-1 Zoom discussions with 28 individuals, and we've connected with over 70 more people through some larger, really engaging virtual meetings. A 3-minute animation was developed in collaboration with a professional animator (Mair Perkins Ltd.), to demonstrate the concepts behind the RaNT procedure and outline a vision for how it might work in the clinic. This was played at the beginning of each session. Participants were then asked for their raw impressions without any guiding questions from the CEM. This meant that everyone began the session with the same level of information about RaNT. The open invite to respond with thoughts and queries regarding what they'd just watched resulted in a largely participant-led discussion, with the CEM stepping in only occasionally to maintain the flow of conversation and ensure that critical research questions were addressed. The animation received very positive feedback from participants, who said how easy it was to understand what RaNT was trying to achieve. It removed the need to deliver a dense 20-30-minute introductory presentation, maximising the time available for discussion. Around 20 hours of conversation, together with some questionnaire and written responses, are currently being collated into a qualitative report on the initial patient interaction with RaNT. Current highlights: People with experience of living with cancer are overwhelmingly positive about what RaNT is attempting to achieve. Critically, there were no fundamental concerns from an experienced patient perspective regarding how the technique works and how we envisage it will be applied in the clinic. We were warned however, that totally new patients with no previous experience of cancer may have different views, and we should prioritise connecting with such an audience. The CEM is currently planning events that will enable access to these groups. Many suggested that RaNT's aim to offer treatment at the point of diagnosis could reduce the impact of being told you have cancer; the sense of immediate action could make having the disease less scary in the future. At the same time, we were cautioned about such a rapid transition from diagnosis to treatment, and will be consulting further regarding the timeline in which patients receive different information when referred to RaNT. Our conversations highlighted the need to seek input from general practitioners and cancer nurse specialists, both very important points of contact for patients. We are now in the process of establishing relationships with representatives from both groups, in the hope of accelerating the successful clinical translation of RaNT. The cohort also identified that RaNT could deliver an enhanced post-treatment check-up regime with potential to improve post-cancer quality-of-life. This could help ensure that the patient does not feel neglected and give them peace-of-mind that the cancer was being or had been positively managed. Participants have identified potential positive outcomes and applications of RaNT that the research team had not previously considered. Together, we are identifying areas that require more detailed consultation, and highlighting new questions, all of which will improve the hopeful clinical translation of the RaNT technique. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Interactive science stall at the 'Pop-up curiosity shop of science and culture' - part of Futures 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A series of interactive demonstrations around a narrative to present the RaNT concept in order to elicit the view points / perspectives of people without cancer experience on the use of nanotechnology in healthcare. We used the stall to understand initial opinion and whether this could be changed following discussion around the stall about the aims of the RaNT Programme and the technologies involved. We were able to measure a change of opinion following engagement with the stall. We were invited to take the work to a subsequent event with a larger audience in 2023 (Standon Calling) by the team who organised the event. We were also invited to take part in Ted Wragg Trust Aspire Conference, an event involving regional schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.agile-rabbit.com/event/pop-up-curiosity-shop-of-science-and-culture-3/ |
| Description | Press release outlining the plans for the RaNT Programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Each partner provided press releases for inclusion in wider media across the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_635440_en.html |
| Description | School Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Talk with interactive demonstrations, followed by a Q&A session around the concept of the RaNT Programme and how contemporary interdisciplinary research works and highlighting how school science subjects are not conducted in isolation in research. Presented to around 50 students plus staff. This was part of the Ted Wragg Trust Aspire Conference which disadvantaged students were given extra encouragement to attend. This was a widening participation event at which we hoped to make science and a research career feel like a more attainable goal for students considering their future careers. The invitation to attend came from the interactive stall at the Futures 2022 event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Soapbox Science (Exeter) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | One of our research team participated in the Soapbox science event taking place in the Princeshay shopping centre, Exeter. Soapbox science is an outreach programme designed to promote women in science and their research. It also improves public access to science by bringing the research out to the public on the streets. Following their presentation the researcher was engaged with discussions and answering questions from members of the public indicating interest was generated in the research via the event. It also helped with understanding the sort of questions that need addressing for public audiences and in planning future events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://rant-medicine.com/soapbox-science-with-dr-priyanka-dey/ |
| Description | Talk for Soap Box Science Event, Exeter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk with interactive demonstrations was delivered by one of the Post-doctoral research fellows from the RaNT team at the Soap Box Science Event in Exeter. The event is a novel outreach platform which promotes women and non-binary scientists and the work that they do. The event allowed dissemination of the research and the audience asked questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://soapboxscience.org/2022/10/17/where-theres-a-will-theres-a-way-meet-megha-mehta/ |
| Description | Talk given at Pint of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a talk at the Exeter Pint of Science event to approximately 20 people about the RaNT Programme and the work behind it. It was also intended to take the opportunity to talk to members of the public without experience of cancer to access perspectives on the research that were different to our existing collaboration group who had experience of cancer. The event introduced the public to the vision of the RaNT Programme and helped us design a new framework for future interactions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/looking-back-looking-forward |